Jarin: Up-tempo game for Bulldogs

MANILA, Philippines - Former San Beda coach Jamike Jarin said yesterday he couldn’t resist the challenge of bringing NU back in UAAP title contention after the Bulldogs failed to make it to the Final Four this season so when the offer came to move, the decision was inevitable.

“I didn’t look for it,” said the 46-year-old Jarin. “The opportunity presented itself. Last year, I thought of leaving San Beda but my heart broke when the players cried after I told them I was considering a transfer. Besides, there was unfinished business as we just lost in the NCAA finals. But this year, we won the championship and when I told the players I was leaving, they gave in to me like I gave in to them before.”

Jarin said he leaves San Beda with a heavy heart but his consolation is the Lions are well-armed to compete with or without him. “San Beda has a bright future,” he said. “Even without me, the team will be very competitive for the next few years because of its strong foundation.”

Jarin said he shook hands with NU team manager Manny Sy and met with school officials, including president Teddy Ocampo and his brother Nilo to confirm the move. Then, for two days this week, he presided at practice before breaking for the holidays. Jarin said practice will resume in the first week of January.

“It was basically a meet-and-greet,” said Jarin. “I wanted to get to know the guys, see them play from up close. We’re losing only Alfred Aroga but we’re starting from scratch, meaning everyone has to fight for 16 available slots. We’ll lead off with players from our Teams A and B then we’ll open up tryouts for invited players. I like challenges. NU wants me to focus exclusively on our team so this will be my last conference with Meralco as an assistant coach in the PBA. We’re excited to move forward with the Bulldogs. We want to become a championship team again.”

Jarin’s coaching staff will be made up of two-time PBA MVP and former NU star Danny Ildefonso, former Meralco forward John Ferriols, former Batang Gilas assistant coach Dennis Llames and former Lyceum assistant coach Ricky Reyes. Additionally, Jarin said Letran coach Jeff Napa will help out. Jarin said Ildefonso and Ferriols will work closely with 6-9 Issa Gaye of Senegal to improve his big man moves. “What I like about Issa is he plays a smart game with no wasted or excess movements,” he said. “Issa is skilled and I think he can be very intimidating on the court.”

With Ildefonso joining Jarin’s staff, it’s not certain if his son Shaun will continue to play for Ateneo. Jarin said he’s also not sure of the status of another former PBA legend Marlou Aquino’s son Matthew who was declared ineligible this season for violating residency requirements but played five games with the Bulldogs on the strength of a TRO.

Jarin said he’ll transform the Bulldogs into an aggressive, up-tempo team. “That’s my style,” he said. “We’ll play with a lot of pressure from 90 feet, that’s full court. NU’s been known as a great defensive and offensive half-court team. This time, we’ll be different. We’ll be all over the floor.”

Next season, Jarin will go up against La Salle coach Aldin Ayo. They faced off in the NCAA finals last year with Ayo leading Letran to the throne over Jarin’s San Beda Red Lions. Jarin said moving to the UAAP has nothing to do with personal rivalry. “My winning formula is selflessness and if I think of just getting back at Aldin, that wouldn’t be selfless,” he said. “We’ve got lots of work to do at NU and I’m ready to give it my 110 percent. I respect Aldin and it’ll be a challenge to face him again. I remember reading somewhere that Aldin admitted he learned a lot from my clinics that he attended, that he developed his mayhem system from my press.”

Jarin, the son of two doctors, said he owes what he is today to the MVP Group. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow as a person, to hone my coaching skills,” he said. “I will always treasure my experience with Batang Gilas, Ateneo, San Beda, TNT and Meralco. That wouldn’t have been possible if not for MVP. In 13 years with the Ateneo juniors as head coach, we won eight UAAP championships. In 15 years with the Ateneo seniors as an assistant coach, we won six championships. In four years with TNT as an assistant coach, we won four championships. With Batang Gilas, we qualified for the FIBA U17 World Championships and finished second at the FIBA Asia U16 Championships. I also coached the U18 national team. I’m bringing with me to NU all the lessons I learned from those years of coaching.”

Jarin said he’ll confer with NU management on a training program to prepare for next season. “I’ve been lucky with my teams going to the Joe Abunassar Impact basketball camp in Las Vegas every year,” he said. “Maybe, NU could also train in Las Vegas. But that’s something still to be discussed. The only sure thing right now is we’re all going to be working extra hard to become a championship team.”